Buffon on ‘90% chance Italy face play-offs’ & reveals when he knew it was time to retire

Gianluigi Buffon reflected on his glittering career, the state of the Italian national team and his life after retirement as he spoke from the stage of the Castagna d’Oro award in Frabosa Sottana.

Now Head of Delegation for the Azzurri, the former Juventus and Parma goalkeeper spoke candidly about reconnecting the current generation of players with the passion that once defined the national team.

“The real difficulty is interacting with the new generations and finding a way to move them emotionally,” Buffon said, with quotes via Goal.

“I try to be genuine – in my 80 per cent of foolishness I can be even sillier than them and that creates a natural link. But there’s also a 20 per cent of seriousness: when something needs improving, I say it firmly because that’s how you earn respect.”

Buffon talks Italy World Cup chances and retirement

The 2006 World Cup winner also urged unity and belief ahead of Italy’s decisive qualifiers for next year’s competition.

“At 90 per cent we’ll go to the play-off, and these last games must prepare us to show the positives we’ve seen recently. The people and the media need signals from us – we must show attachment to the shirt.”

Buffon then turned to his Juventus past, reclaiming the league titles removed in light of the Calciopoli scandal.

“I’ve won 13 Scudetti, not 11,” he insisted. “There are also those won on the pitch and later revoked. In the end, more than the numbers, the phrases that accompanied them matter and for that, I’m grateful.”

Finally, he revealed what prompted him to retire after returning to Parma:

“When I saw the 20-year-olds’ physiques in the shower next to me, I felt uncomfortable. I told myself: ‘Cover up – you can’t let them see you like this!’”

Buffon returned to Parma in 2021 at the age of 43 and spent two seasons with the Gialloblu in Serie B before retiring in 2023 at 45-years-old.

Buffon also paid tribute to Italy legends Gianluca Vialli and Gigi Riva, calling them “two superior men who always left me something after every conversation.”